Studio couch



Marc 16, 1937 A. KRAKAUER STUDIO couch Y Filed Aug. 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Aha/mm ffmkauen March 16, 1937.

\llll A. KRAKAUER STUDIO opuoa Filed Aug. 22. 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V E N TO R Aha/mm [[mkauer Patented Mar. 16, I937 PATE OFFHIE STUDID COUCH Abraham. Krakauer, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Ka Manufacturing Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 22, 1934, Serial No. 740,921

10' Claims.

This invention relates to studio couches, and

particularly to that type wherein a couch part is normally concealed within an outer couch part, the parts being adapted to be separated transversely when both couch parts are to be used.

My invention contemplates the provision of a couch part adapted to be readily collapsed toward the floor and to be reduced in height for concealment within the outer couch part and to be raised into operative position from its collapsed position, all with a minimum amount of effort on the part of the user.

My invention further contemplates the provision of a couch part of simplified construction and involving the use of a minimum number of for cleaning and replacement.

The various objects of my invention will be clear from the drawings and description which follows, and from the drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved collapsible couch part in the operative or raised position thereof.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofa studio couch to which my improved couch part has been applied,

showing the connections thereto whereby the couch part may be guided into its concealed position within its cooperating couch part.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the couch in the normal position thereof wherein the collapsible couch part is concealed within the outer part.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end view of the collapsible couch part showing particularly the means for guiding the legs into the collapsed positions thereof.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front View of one end of the collapsible couch part.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the same in the collapsed position thereof.

Fig. I is a fragmentary front view of the upper portion of the collapsible couch part, showing a modified form of the means for supporting the mattress spring and for limiting the movement of the upper ends of the legs relatively thereto.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of another modified form of the same.

Fig. 9 is a similar view of another modified form thereof.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the lower end of one of the collapsible legs showing a swivel caster for supporting the legs and for permitting ,55 movement of the collapsible legs both toward the collapsed position and also relatively to the outer couch part.

In that practical embodiment of my invention which I have shown by way of example, the outer couch part is designated generally by the numeral Ill. Since in some cases it is intended that the collapsible couch part designated by the number II, be stationary, and that the outer couch part be moved into position over the collapsible part II to conceal the latter, the legs I2 of the outer part may, if desired, be provided with suitable casters I3 to permit the required movement. It will be understood, however, that the casters I3 may be omitted if the outer part It is to remain stationary and the collapsible part II to be moved for concealment therein.

The collapsible couch part I I comprises a series of legs 94, I5, I6 and I1, each arranged at one of the corners of said part, and each preferably taking the form of an upright angle member. To connect the front end pair of legs I4, l5 there is provided a pair of transverse diagonal braces I8, I9 each secured at its lower end to one of the legs and at its upper end to the other of the pair of legs, said. braces being also secured together at their intersection as at 20. A similar pair of braces H, 22 are connected to the rear legs I6, I! and similarly secured together.

The legs I5 and IE are further connected by suitable longitudinal braces permitting collapse of the upper end of each of the legs toward each other about the middle of the legs as a pivot.

The longitudinal brace 23 is suitably secured to the leg I5 at about its middle point as at 24 by means of a suitable pin, rivet, bolt or screw permitting rotation of the leg about the pivot. The other end of the brace 23 is similarly secured to the leg I6 as at 25. The lower end of the diagonal brace 26 is secured to the lower part of the leg I5 by the similar pivot pin 21, while at its other or upper end, thebrace 26 is pivoted to the leg I6 by the pivot pin 28 operating in a suitable longitudinal slot in the leg. Similarly, the brace 29 is pivoted to the leg It at its lower end as at 30 and to the leg I5 at its upper end by the pivot pin 3|, operating in the longitudinal slot 32. Where the braces 23, 26 and 29 cross each other, a suitably U-shaped clip 33 secured to one of the braces encompasses said braces and serves to prevent excessive relative lateral movement thereof. The legs I4 and Il are similarly provided with diagonal braces similar to; the braces 23, 26 and 29 so that a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The lower end part of each of the legs is pulled inwardly, or in the direction toward the corresponding leg on the same side, by a suitable tension spring as 34 (Fig. 5). One end 35 of the spring is secured to the leg below its pivot (25, 21) as at 36, while the other end is secured to the brace 23 as at 31.

It will be noted that if the upper ends of the legs I5, I6 and I4, I! are moved toward each other, as for example in the manner and by the means soon to be described, the legs are swung about their respective pivots 24, 25, the legs I4 and I5 being swung in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l and the legs I6 and IT in a countor-clockwise direction. It will further be noted that movement of one pair of legs as I6, I1 causes the proper movement of the other pair of legs I4, I5 toward their collapsed positions through the intermediary of the bar braces 26 and 29.

At their lower ends each of the legs is provided with a suitable caster as 38. As seen in Fig. 10, said caster may be of swivel type accommodating itself automatically tomovement in any direction of the leg to which it is attached. Also secured to the leg at its lower end is the flexible and resilient stop or rest 39 of rubber or the like, projecting slightly below the caster 38, when the couch part II is in its extended or open position. It will thus be seen that as the leg is moved into its collapsed position, the caster 38 engages the floor or other support on which the couch rests immediately after such movement is begun and the stop 39 is removed from its engagement with the floor. Similarly, when the couch part is moved into its extended position, the caster 38 is slightly lifted from the floor at the end of such movement and the stop 39 instead is brought into engagement with the floor and thereby sustains the weight of the couch part.

To move the legs in the manner just described a suitable handle 49 is shown as secured to one pair of legs I6, I'I, though it will be understood that a similar handle may be likewise secured to 5 the other pair of legs I4, I5. The handle 40 comprises a cross member M and side members 42 and 43; said side members being secured to the legs I6 and I1 respectively by the pivot pins 28.

The extensions 44 of the side members 42 and 43 are also secured to the leg as by means of the pivot pins 25, whereby movement of the handle 46 causes corresponding movement of the pair of legs to which it is attached. The side members 42 and 43 are made sufficiently long to provide a space for the reception of the mattress 46, it being understood that the cross member 49 may rest on or be arranged slightly above the upper surface of the mattress when the couch part is collapsed.

The mattress spring 56 may be of any of the usual types and comprises a frame part 5I and a spring part 52. Contrary to the usual practice in this art, the mattress spring 56 is readily removable fro-m the legs I4, I5, I6 and I'd in order that the spring may be cleaned, washed, disinfected, repaired or replaced. Toward this end, a suitable detachable connection is made between the legs and the mattress spring. As shown in Fig. 5, the connection may take the form of a roller 53 pivotally mounted on the bracket 54, which is in turn secured to the upper end of the leg in such a manner that the roller 53 extends above the uppermost point of the leg and engages the under face of the frame 5|. A stop as 54' is secured to the longitudinal'member of the frame 5i at such points as to engage the roller 53 and to prevent undue collapse of the legs. (Fig. 6). Similarly, a stop 55 is secured to the longitudinal members of the frame 5I in such position as to engage the roller 53 in the extended positions of the legs and to maintain the legs against undue movement.

In that form of my invention shown in Fig. '7 the roller 53 and the bracket 54 therefor may be eliminated and in place thereof may be substituted the rounded extension 56 on one of the flanges of the leg. Said extension 56 engages the under surface of the longitudinal member of the frame 5I and thereby serves to maintain the leg in its proper position relatively to the mattress spring.

As shown in Fig. 8, the connection for removably connecting the mattress spring to the leg comprises a suitable removable bolt or pin 5! passing through a perforation in the flange of the leg and also passing through a slot as 58, in the side flange 59 of the longitudinal member of the frame 5|. The pin 51 operates in the groove 58 and the ends of the groove serve to limit the movement of the leg.

As shown in Fig. 9, that portion of the material below the slot 58 may be removed whereby the pin 51 by its engagement with the wall 6|] of the cut-away portion 6| serves to removably connect the mattress spring to the leg. It will be seen that the mattress spring may readily be removed from the remainder of the couch part by merely lifting it off the roller 53, or off the pin or rod 51, or ofl" the extension 56 as the case may be, and that said mattress spring may be i.

easily replaced on the legs when desired. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a stop member or plate 62 may be secured to the brace 23. Said plate is provided with an edge 63 adapted to engage the leg to prevent extension of the leg beyond a predetermined limit, cooperating with the stop 55 for that purpose.

To permit relative movement of the couch parts In and I I and to guide said parts into the normal positions thereof shown in Fig. 3, wherein the collapsible couch part is concealed, a pair of extension bars 65 and 66 are provided. (Fig. 2). The bar 65 is pivoted at one end as at 61 to the flange 68 projecting from the nearer brace 23,

while at its other end, the bar 65 is provided with a pin 69 operating in the slot ID of a stationary member 16 secured to the couch part II]. The bar 66 is pivoted to the couch part ID at one end, while at its other end it is provided with the pin 72 operating in the slot I3 of the flange 68 of the bearer brace 23.

It being understood the suitably shaped combined handle and head rest 40 may be provided at each end of the part II, collapse of said part for movement into the space I5 of the part In is preferably effected by merely moving the handle 40 in the proper direction (illustrated as clockwise in Fig. 1) until the roller 53 engages the stop 54 (Fig. 6), or until the extension 56 engages said stop,.(Fig. '7), or until the pin or rod 51 reaches the end of the slot 58, (Fig. 8), or until said pin reaches the left end of the cut-away part BI (Fig. 9). The springs 34, when the couch part I I is collapsed, are of insuflicient strength to move the legs and the parts connected thereto out of their collapsed positions until just after the extending movement of the handle is begun.

In any case, the stop rest 39 is removed from the floor and the casters 38 brought into engagement with thefloor while the brace 26 moves bodily toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1 and the brace 29 moves bodily toward the right while the spring 34 is extended or tensioned on such movement of the handle 40. It will be understood that the weights of the-mattress spring 50 and of the mattress 46 thereon is sufficient .to overcome the pull of the springs 34 so that comparatively little effort on the part of the user is needed to perform thecollapsing operation.

After the couch part has been collapsed into the position of Fig. 6, the couch part l if provided with rollers l3, may be pulled transversely over the collapsed couch part to conceal the part II in the space 15. The bars 65 and 66 while readily detachable fromthe projections 68 and 14 respectively, when the part I l is to be used as a separate bed nevertheless serve to guide the parts I!) and I I in their relative movement and to maintain said parts in their proper longitudinal rela-. tion. 1

Ifthe couch part In is not provided with rollers l3, then the part II may be pushed into the space 15, the casters 38 swivelling into the proper position automatically to permit such movement.

When the couch part I is to be extended, it is first removed from the space 15, either by moving the couch part ID or by pulling the couch part [I out of the space, and then the handle 40 is swung in a clockwise direction to swing the legs about the pivots aided thereto by the pull of the springs 34. Said springs are so designed as to necessitate comparatively slight effort on the part of the user to overcome the difference between the pull of the springs and the weights of 7 the mattress spring and mattress.

It will be seen that I have provided a studio couch requiring little effort on the part of the user to open and close, consisting of a comparatively small number of parts adapted for economical construction, providing a combined head rest and operating handle and adapted throughout to meet the severe requirements of practical use.

While I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto but desire to claim my invention as broadly as may be permitted by the state of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a studio couch, a downwardly collapsible and upwardly extensible couch part, comprising a pair of front legs at one end of said part, a similar pair of rear legs at the other end of said part, means connecting the legs of each pair for bracing said pair, means for pivotally connecting a. front leg to the corresponding rear leg on the same side of the couch part for collapsing movement in opposite directions, said means comprising three longitudinal braces pivoted at their ends to said front leg and to said corresponding rear leg, two of said braces being inclined and crossing each other, a back rest and operating handle combined, secured to the legs of at least one pair, a mattress spring resting removably on the legs, stop means on the spring for limiting the movement of the upper ends of the legs in either direction and springs urging said legs toward their extended positions.

2. In a studio couch, a collapsible couch part comprising a pair of legs substantially upright in the operative position of said part, diagonal transverse braces for said legs to cause movement of the legs of the pair as a unit, a similar pair of legs spaced from the first mentioned pair and means for connecting a leg of one pair to the corresponding leg of the other pair, comprising a first brace pivoted at its ends to said last mentioned legs at substantially the middle of said legs, a brace pivotally connected at one end to the lower end of one of the legs and pivotally and slidably connected to the upper end of the other-leg and a third brace pivotally and slidably connected to the upper end of said one of the legs and pivotally connected to the lower end of said other of the legs.

3. In a studio couch, a mattress-spring including a metallic frame, and resilient metallic mattress-supporting means within the frame, a collapsible support for the spring including movable legs adapted to rest on a floor at their lower ends and at their upper ends arranged underneath and removably supporting said frame whereby the frame is removable from the legs by a lifting motion, means forming part of the frame for limiting the movement of the upper ends of the legs when said legs reach the effective mattress-spring-supp'orting positions thereof, the upper ends of the legs being in engagement with the frame in all the positions of said legs, means for moving said legs from upright toward horizontal position and vice versa to collapse the support, said means including a pair of braces arranged normally in crossed relation and extending longitudinally between the corresponding pair of legs on the same side of the support and spring means for urging the legs toward their upright positions.

4. In a studio couch, a collapsible couch part adapted to removably support a mattress spring comprising a leg arranged adjacent each corner of the couch part, and adapted to have the mattress spring rest thereon and free of any securing connection to said mattress spring, means for pivotally connecting the corresponding legs at one side of the couch part to each other for collapsing movement whereby the upper ends of the legs move toward each other and the lower ends of said legs move awayfrom each other, and a combined handle and head rest directly secured to an end pair of legs and forming an integral extension thereof for moving said legs into and out of their collapsed positions.

5. In a studio couch, a collapsible couch part including legs, means including a head rest secured to an end pair of legs and a pair of braces arranged in crossed relation and extending longitudinally between and pivoted to a corresponding pair of legs on the same side of the couch part for moving the upper ends of the corresponding pair of legs toward each other to collapse the couch part, a mattress-spring supporting frame resting removably on the upper ends of said legs, and means on said frame for engaging the upper ends of said legs and limiting the movement thereof.

6. In a studio couch, a collapsible couch part including straight legs maintained in pairs at each end of the couch part and in upright position when operative, means for pivotally sup.- porting the corresponding legs of said pairs at points intermediate the ends thereof comprising a brace secured thereto and maintaining the pivots for the legs a fixed distance apart, said brace being otherwise free of the remainder of the couch, means including a head rest secured to an end pair of legs for moving the upper ends of said pairs of legs toward each other and the lower ends of said pairs of legs away from each other simultaneously to collapse the couch part, a caster for direct contact with a floor at the lower end of each of the legs, a mattress spring removable from the legs by a lifting movement, an operative engageable and disengageable sliding connection forming part of the mattress spring and connecting the upper end of the legs and the mattress spring, stops at the ends of said connection for limiting the movement of said upper ends of the legs, and. spring means for urging said legs toward their upright positions.

'7. In a studio couch, a couch part comprising legs arranged at one end of the part and legs arranged at the other end of the part, said legs being pivoted intermediate the ends thereof and being substantially upright in their operative positions, and having the lower ends thereof free to rest directly on a floor, means for moving the upper ends of the legs at one end in one direction and for moving the upper ends of the legs at the other end of the part in the opposite direction simultaneously to collapse the couch part and to extend the couch part, said means including a brace extending and pivoted to the lower end of a leg at one end of the part and to the upper end of a leg at the other end of the part, a frame resting removably on the upper ends of the legs, and means on the frame for limiting the movements of said upper ends of the legs in either direction.

8. In a studio couch, a collapsible couch part adapted to removably support the mattress-supporting frame hereinafter mentioned and comprising collapsible legs arranged at one end of the couch part, collapsible legs arranged at the other end of the couch part, said legs being substantially upright in their extended operative positions and being adapted to rest directly upon a floor, means for pivotally connecting the corresponding legs at one side of the couch part to each other for collapsing movement whereby the upper ends of the legs move toward each other and the lower ends of the legs move away from each other, and a collapsible U-shaped combined handle and head rest secured directly to the legs at one end of the couch part, said handle and head rest being of sufficient height when rotated into its collapsed position to rest on a mattress arranged on the mattress-supporting frame, a mattress-supporting frame resting removably on the upper ends of the legs, an operative engageable and disengageable connection between the upper ends of the legs and the mattress-supporting frame, said connection forming part of said frame, and stop means at the ends of said connection for engaging the upper ends of the legs and limiting the movement thereof.

9. In a studio couch, a collapsible couch part comprising two pairs of legs, means for bracing each pair, a longitudinal brace pivotally connected at one end to a leg of one pair and pivotally connected at its other end to a corresponding leg of the other pair, additional longitudinal braces crossing each other and pivotally connecting said last mentioned legs for movement of the upper ends of said last mentioned legs toward each other, a mattress spring adapted removably to engage the upper ends of said legs, stop means on said mattress spring for limiting the movement of the upper ends of said legs, and spring means for urging said legs toward their upright positions.

10. A collapsible support for a mattress spring comprising a pair of legs at one end of said support, said legs terminating in curved elements, a frame resting removably on said elements and adapted to support a mattress spring, a similar pair of legs at the other end of the support, each of the legs being arranged at a corner of the support, a pivot intermediate the ends of each of the legs, a longitudinal brace joining the pair of pivots at one side of the support and constituting the sole means for supporting and maintaining the pair of pivots at all times at a fixed distance apart, said brace being otherwise free of said support, a second brace pivoted to the upper end of one of the legs of one pair and to the lower end of the corresponding legs of the other pair, and a combined handle and head rest forming an integral extension of one pair of legs for moving said legs into and out of their collapsed positions.

ABRAHAM ICRAKAUER. 

